Cleaning apparatus

0001This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP2005/012654 filed on Nov. 26, 2005.

0002The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in international application number PCT/EP2005/012654 of Nov. 26, 2005 and German application number 10 2005 007 923.7 of Feb. 11, 2005, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular a suction apparatus, comprising a cleaning unit driven by an electric motor and comprising a housing which has a battery chamber for accommodating at least one rechargeable battery, a connecting device having a mechanical mounting part and an electrical plug connector part being disposed in the battery chamber for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between the battery and the cleaning apparatus.

0004Cleaning apparatuses of this type can be used to clean a surface, for example a floor surface. To this end, the cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning unit having an electric motor. In order to supply power to the cleaning unit, said cleaning unit can usually be connected to a mains voltage by means of a connection cable. As an alternative, the supply of power can be ensured by a rechargeable battery which can be inserted into the battery chamber. The battery chamber contains a connecting device for establishing a mechanical and electrical connection between the battery and the cleaning apparatus. The battery is fixed in position by means of the mechanical mounting part, and the electrical connection between the battery and the cleaning unit driven by an electric motor can be established by means of the electrical plug connector part.

0005The rechargeable batteries used are usually matched to the cleaning apparatus to which they are to be fitted both in terms of their electrical properties, in particular the battery voltage, and also with respect to their physical shape. This has the advantage that the shape of the battery chamber can correspond exactly to the physical shape of the battery to be accommodated and the batteries can be securely held in the battery chamber in a simple manner. However, this is associated with the disadvantage that the respectively matched batteries have to be available to the user and other batteries, which the user already uses for electric tools for example, cannot be used.

0006It is an object of the present invention to further develop a cleaning apparatus of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that batteries of different physical shapes can be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007According to the invention, this object is achieved in a cleaning apparatus of the generic type by the mounting part being detachably mounted in the battery chamber, and the plug connector part being detachably connectable as desired to the mounting part or to a chamber wall of the battery chamber.

0008Power can be supplied to the cleaning apparatus according to the invention both by means of rechargeable batteries whose physical shape is matched specifically to said cleaning apparatus and also by means of extraneous batteries whose physical shape is not matched to the shape of the battery chamber. If batteries which are matched to the cleaning apparatus are used, the mounting part can be secured in the battery chamber for this purpose and the plug connector part can be connected to the mounting part. At least one battery which is matched to the cleaning apparatus can then be inserted into the battery chamber, the mounting part ensuring that the battery is mechanically fixed in position within the battery chamber, and the plug connector part ensuring the electrical connection between the battery and the cleaning unit driven by an electric motor. If power is to be supplied by means of an extraneous battery, it is only necessary to remove the mounting part from the battery chamber and to connect the electrical plug connector part to the chamber wall for this purpose. The extraneous battery can then be securely held within the battery chamber by means of an adapter which is matched firstly to the extraneous battery and secondly to the plug connector part, and be electrically connected to the cleaning unit by means of the plug connector part. It is therefore only necessary for the user to remove the mounting part from the battery chamber and fit the plug connector part, which is electrically connected to the cleaning unit driven by an electric motor by means of electrical connecting lines, to the chamber wall instead of to the mounting part. There is therefore no need to disconnect the electrical connection between the plug connector part and the cleaning unit driven by an electric motor, but only to change the position of the plug connector part, which position said plug connector part assumes in order to establish an electrical connection to the battery. In order to establish a connection to a battery which is matched to the cleaning apparatus, the plug connector part can be connected to the mounting part which can be fixed within the battery chamber, and in order to establish a connection to an extraneous battery the plug connector part can be connected to the chamber wall and the mounting part can be removed from the battery chamber.

0009Removal of the mounting part from the battery chamber increases the space within the battery chamber, with the result that it is also possible to insert into the battery chamber extraneous batteries with a larger physical volume than batteries which are matched to the cleaning apparatus. The user therefore particularly has the possibility of using extraneous batteries, which are already available to him in connection with the supply of power to his electric tools, for example an electric drill or electric screwdriver, in order to also supply power to the cleaning apparatus.

0010It is advantageous when the chamber wall of the battery chamber has a plug connector receptacle for inserting the plug connector part. In this case, provision may be made for the plug connector part to be latchable to the plug connector receptacle.

0011In an advantageous embodiment, the insertion of the plug connector part into the plug connector receptacle is made easier by guide elements which interact with one another being disposed on the plug connector receptacle and on the plug connector part.

0012In an embodiment which can be produced in a cost-effective manner, the guide elements comprise guide ribs and guide grooves which receive said guide ribs.

0013Provision may be made, for example, for a guide groove to in each case be disposed on the plug connector part on sides which face away from each other, with a guide rib which is provided on the chamber wall entering said guide groove. However, a reverse arrangement may also be used in such a way that the plug connector part has a respective guide rib, which enters a guide groove which is provided on the chamber wall, on sides which face away from each other.

0014In a preferred embodiment, the mounting part is detachably connectable to the chamber wall, said mounting part covering the plug connector receptacle. Therefore, when the mounting part is inserted into the battery chamber, the plug connector receptacle is covered by the mounting part and protected by said mounting part against mechanical effects.

0015The mounting part preferably has an accommodation compartment for accommodating the plug connector part. The plug connector part can therefore be inserted into the accommodation compartment of the mounting part if the cleaning apparatus is to be fitted with batteries which are matched to said cleaning apparatus.

0016Insertion of the plug connector part into the accommodation compartment can be simplified by guide elements which interact with one another being disposed on the accommodation compartment and on the plug connector part.

0017The guide elements can comprise guide ribs and guide grooves which receive said guide ribs.

0018Provision may be made, for example, to provide a guide groove in each case on the plug connector part on sides which face away from each other, with a guide rib which is provided on the mounting part entering said guide groove. As an alternative, provision may be made for the plug connector part to have a respective guide rib, which enters a guide groove which is provided on the mounting part, on sides which face away from each other.

0019In order to fix the position of a battery which is matched to the cleaning apparatus such that it can bear mechanical loads, a particularly preferred embodiment provides for the mounting part to comprise at least one positively locking element for establishing a positively locking connection to the battery. The positively locking element can, for example, be configured as a guide rib or guide groove or dovetail guide.

0020It is particularly advantageous when the mounting part has two positively locking elements which are spaced apart from one another and between which the plug connector part can be positioned. The positively locking elements interact with corresponding positively locking parts of the battery and, when the mechanical connection is established between the battery and the positively locking elements, an electrical connection is established at the same time by means of the plug connector part which is disposed between the positively locking elements. To this end, the plug connector part can have a plurality of plug contacts onto which the battery can be placed when the positive connection between the battery and the mounting part is established.

0021The two positively locking elements are preferably fixedly connected to one another by means of an end wall of the mounting part and, together with the end wall, delimit an accommodation compartment for accommodating the plug connector part. The plug connector part can therefore be inserted between the two positively locking elements, the end wall forming a stop for the plug connector part.

0022In this case, it is advantageous for the end wall to have an opening which receives a projection of the plug connector part. The projection can pass through the opening and enable the plug connector part to be fixed in position on the mounting part.

0023In an advantageous embodiment, the establishment of the mechanical connection between the battery and the mounting part is made easier by the at least one positively locking element being disposed on an end face of the mounting part, which end face faces the interior of the battery chamber when the mounting part is inserted into the battery chamber. In a configuration of this type, the positively locking element is easily accessible to the user, he can easily bring the battery into contact with the at least one positively locking element. For example, the positively locking element can form a guide rail which extends in the insertion direction of the battery and onto which the battery can be pushed during insertion into the battery chamber.

0024The battery which is matched to the cleaning apparatus can be held in a particularly stable manner within the battery chamber by the end face of the mounting part forming a contact surface for contact by the battery above the at least one positively locking element. The battery can be supported flat on the contact surface.

0025In a preferred embodiment, the chamber wall, to which the plug connector part can be detachably fixed and to which the mounting part is detachably connectable in an advantageous configuration, is configured as a pivotable flap which closes an access opening in the battery chamber. The flap can be pivoted to and fro between a closed position, in which it closes the battery chamber, and an open position, in which the battery is accessible for the purpose of replacing at least one battery, and the flap can serve to hold both batteries which are matched to the cleaning apparatus and also extraneous batteries which can optionally be inserted into the battery compartment. In order to insert a battery, it is only necessary to pivot the flap outward into its open position. If a battery which is matched to the cleaning apparatus is used, the battery is preferably secured on the mounting part which is detachably held on the inside of the flap and to which the plug connector part is detachably connectable. If an extraneous battery is used, said battery is secured on an adapter which can be connected to the plug connector part which is detachably connectable to the inside of the flap.

0026The mounting part or optionally an adapter can preferably be secured to the inner face of the flap for example by means of a snap-action or clamping connection or else by means of a screw connection.

0027The cleaning apparatus is preferably configured as a suction apparatus comprising a cleaning unit in the form of a suction unit and comprising a dirt-collection container which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with the suction unit.

0028It is advantageous, particularly when the cleaning apparatus is configured as a suction apparatus, for the housing to comprise a housing lower part and a housing upper part which can be placed onto said housing lower part, the cleaning unit and the battery chamber being disposed in the housing upper part. An arrangement of this type has the advantage that no electrical connections between the plug connector part and the cleaning unit driven by an electric motor have to be disconnected when the housing lower part and the housing upper part are separated.

0029With regard to a physical shape of the cleaning apparatus which is as compact as possible, it is advantageous when the battery chamber is disposed laterally next to the cleaning unit. When the cleaning apparatus is configured as a suction unit, it is advantageous when the battery chamber extends as far as a point where it is beneath the upper edge of the dirt-collection container.

0030The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves to explain the invention in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>: shows a schematic sectional view of a cleaning apparatus comprising a battery chamber;

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>: shows a perspective illustration of a flap which covers the battery chamber with a battery which is held on the inside of the flap and is matched to the cleaning apparatus;

0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>: shows a sectional view along line <b>3</b>-<b>3</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>;

0034<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>: shows a view of the flap from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> in the form of an exploded illustration;

0035<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>: shows a perspective illustration of the flap from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> comprising an extraneous battery which is held on the inside of the flap; and

0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>: shows a sectional view along line <b>6</b>-<b>6</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0037In the drawing, a cleaning apparatus according to the invention in the form of a suction apparatus <b>10</b> is schematically illustrated. Said apparatus comprises a housing <b>12</b> having a housing lower part <b>13</b> and a housing upper part <b>14</b>. The housing lower part <b>13</b> forms a dirt-collection container <b>16</b> with a suction inlet <b>17</b> through which a suction connection piece <b>18</b> passes. A suction hose, which is known per se and therefore not illustrated in the drawing and can carry a suction nozzle at its free end, can be connected to the outside of the suction connection piece <b>18</b> in a customary manner. A step <b>21</b>, which is oriented in a substantially horizontal manner and carries a downwardly directed protection wall <b>22</b> at its free end, is integrally formed on the rear face <b>20</b> of the dirt-collection container <b>16</b> approximately halfway up the dirt-collection container, said rear face being directed away from the suction connection piece <b>18</b>. Two running wheels are mounted on the housing lower part <b>13</b> beneath the step <b>21</b> such that they can rotate freely about a common axis of rotation <b>25</b>, only one running wheel <b>23</b> being illustrated in the drawing, and a support wheel <b>24</b> is rotatably mounted on the housing lower part <b>13</b> beneath the suction connection piece <b>18</b>.

0038The housing upper part <b>14</b> is seated on an upper edge in the form of an upper sealing rim <b>26</b> of the dirt-collection container <b>16</b> and surrounds a cleaning unit in the form of a suction unit <b>28</b> having an electric motor <b>29</b> and a suction turbine <b>30</b> which is driven by said electric motor. The suction unit <b>28</b> is carried by a supporting wall <b>32</b> which enters the dirt-collection container <b>16</b> and has a suction outlet <b>33</b> by means of which the suction unit <b>28</b> is in flow connection with the dirt-collection container <b>16</b>.

0039Laterally next to the suction unit <b>28</b>, the housing upper part <b>14</b> has a battery chamber <b>35</b> which is seated on the step <b>21</b> and accommodates two rechargeable batteries for supplying power to the suction unit <b>28</b>. As an alternative, the suction unit <b>28</b> can also be connected to a mains voltage. To this end, the suction apparatus <b>10</b> has a connection cable which is known per se and is therefore not illustrated in the drawing.

0040The battery chamber <b>35</b> is accessible via a flap <b>37</b> which is disposed on the rear face, which is directed away from the suction connection piece <b>18</b>, of the housing upper part <b>14</b> and forms a chamber wall of the battery chamber <b>35</b> and can be pivoted about a pivot axis <b>38</b> which is oriented parallel to the rotary shaft <b>25</b>.

0041The upper face of the housing upper part <b>14</b> has a carrying handle <b>39</b> which can be used to raise the housing upper part <b>14</b> away from the housing lower part <b>13</b>, so that the dirt-collection container <b>16</b> can be emptied.

0042The battery chamber <b>35</b> can be fitted with two batteries, a single battery being however sufficient to operate the suction apparatus <b>10</b>, so that the second battery is employed only when the first battery is depleted.

0043A battery <b>41</b> whose physical shape is matched specifically to the suction apparatus <b>10</b> is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>. The battery <b>41</b> is mechanically and electrically connected to the suction apparatus <b>10</b> by means of a connecting device <b>43</b> which is mounted on the inside of the flap <b>37</b> and comprises a mechanical mounting part <b>44</b> and an electrical plug connector part <b>45</b>. As is clear from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> in particular, the mounting part <b>44</b> has a flat, rectangular end wall <b>47</b> from whose longitudinal sides <b>48</b>, <b>49</b> and from whose upper transverse side <b>50</b> side walls <b>51</b> project to the rear, that is to say in the direction of the flap <b>37</b>. A screw boss <b>52</b> which has an internal thread <b>53</b> is integrally formed on each of the side walls <b>51</b> on the longitudinal sides. This is clear from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

0044With its region which borders the upper transverse side <b>50</b>, the end wall <b>47</b> forms a contact surface <b>55</b> which is adjoined by a rectangular aperture <b>57</b> which is delimited by two positively locking elements in the form of T-shaped guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> on the longitudinal sides. The guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> are fixedly connected to one another by means of a connecting wall <b>62</b> which is oriented parallel to the contact surface <b>55</b>. The connecting wall <b>62</b> has a circular opening <b>63</b> and extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> only along a subregion of the guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b>, so that a free space <b>65</b> is defined between the two guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> above the connecting wall <b>62</b>.

0045The two guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> each carry a guide rib <b>66</b> and, respectively, <b>67</b> such that said guide ribs are level with the upper rim of the connecting wall <b>62</b> and face one another.

0046The inside of the flap <b>37</b> has connection pieces <b>69</b> onto which the mounting part <b>44</b> can be placed by means of the screw bosses <b>52</b>. The connection pieces <b>69</b> are provided with a through-hole <b>70</b> through which a connecting screw <b>71</b> can pass. Therefore, the mounting part <b>44</b> can be screwed to the flap <b>37</b> by means of the connecting screws <b>71</b>.

0047In combination with the connecting wall <b>62</b>, the guide rails <b>59</b>, <b>60</b> define an accommodation compartment <b>73</b> into which the plug connector part <b>45</b> can be inserted from the rear. Said plug connector part has a supporting block <b>75</b> which carries a circular-cylindrical projection <b>76</b> on its front face and, in each case, a guide groove <b>77</b> and <b>78</b> on outer faces which are directed away from one another. The supporting block <b>75</b> carries a plurality of electrical plug contacts <b>79</b> on its upper face. If the plug connector part <b>45</b> is inserted into the accommodation compartment <b>73</b> of the mounting part <b>44</b>, the guide ribs <b>66</b>, <b>67</b> of the mounting part <b>44</b> enter the guide grooves <b>77</b> and, respectively, <b>78</b> of the supporting block <b>75</b>, and the projection <b>76</b> passes through the opening <b>63</b> in the connecting wall <b>62</b>. The plug contacts <b>79</b> then assume a position within the free space <b>65</b>, as can be seen from <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> for example, and the mounting part <b>44</b> can then be screwed to the flap <b>37</b>.

0048The mounting part <b>44</b>, with the plug connector part <b>45</b> inserted in the accommodation compartment <b>73</b> and therefore detachably connected to the mounting part <b>44</b>, is used when the battery chamber <b>35</b> is fitted with a battery <b>41</b> which is matched specifically to the suction apparatus <b>10</b>. However, if the battery chamber <b>35</b> is to be fitted with an extraneous battery <b>81</b>, as is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref>, the mounting part <b>44</b> is removed from the flap <b>37</b> by the connecting screws <b>71</b> being loosened, and the plug connector part <b>45</b> is removed from the accommodation compartment <b>73</b> of the mounting part <b>44</b>. In order to establish a detachable connection to the flap <b>37</b>, the plug connector part <b>45</b> is then introduced into a receptacle <b>83</b> which is disposed on the inside of the flap <b>37</b> and on which two guide ribs <b>84</b>, <b>85</b> are provided at a distance from one another and receive between them the supporting block <b>75</b> of the plug connector part <b>45</b> by in each case entering a guide groove <b>77</b> or, respectively, <b>78</b> of the supporting block <b>75</b>. The mounting part <b>44</b> can be removed from the battery chamber <b>35</b>, and an adapter <b>87</b>, which is matched firstly to the extraneous battery <b>81</b> being used and secondly to the plug connector part <b>45</b>, can be placed onto the plug connector part <b>45</b> which is introduced into the receptacle <b>83</b>. The adapter <b>87</b> has electrical contact elements <b>88</b>, <b>89</b> to which the extraneous battery <b>81</b> can be connected and which are connected to connection contacts of the adapter <b>87</b>, which connection contacts can be electrically connected to the plug contacts <b>79</b> of the plug connector part <b>45</b>, by means of connecting lines which run within the adapter <b>87</b> and are not illustrated in the drawing.

0049Securing the plug connector part <b>45</b> optionally either on the mounting part <b>44</b> or on the inside of the flap <b>37</b> therefore makes it possible, in a structurally simple manner, to alternatively insert into the battery chamber <b>35</b> either batteries <b>41</b> which are matched specifically to the suction apparatus <b>10</b> or extraneous batteries <b>81</b>, only one additional adapter <b>87</b> being required when an extraneous battery <b>81</b> is used, it being possible to screw said adapter to the flap <b>37</b> in a similar manner to that used for the mounting part <b>44</b> using the connecting screws <b>71</b>. To this end, the adapter <b>87</b> has two screw bosses <b>90</b>, <b>91</b> which can be placed onto the connection pieces <b>69</b> of the flap <b>37</b>.